2021 Letters
Since the beginning of the 117th Congress, I have led and signed on to numerous letters to address various issues affecting my constituents, district, and the nation. Scroll on this page to learn more about previous and current initiatives that I am leading for the Valley!
December
Bipartisan letter to Commerce Secretary Raimondo on lumber shortage
December 21, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa joined a letter urging Secretary Raimondo to reconsider the decision to increase antidumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber, which will raise prices on lumber even further, burdening American families. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Bipartisan Letter Urging EPA to Delay Herbicide Registration Revisions
December 9, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa joined a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency to delay potential herbicide registration revisions — such as dicamba registrations — that could exacerbate existing herbicide shortages, threaten the ability of some farmers to plant crops on time, and negatively impact the bottom lines of American farmers and producers in the 2022 growing season. The full text of the letter can be found here.
November
Bipartisan Letter on Integration of Western Balkans into the European Union
November 18, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa joined a bipartisan letter to the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States urging Bulgaria to resolve a bilateral dispute that is preventing Albania and North Macedonia from launching their EU accession negotiations. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to Congressional leadership calling for increased pell grant funding in the Build Back Better Act
November 2, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa joined a letter with 80 members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that an expansion of the Pell Grant Program be included in the final version of the “Build Back Better Act.” The full text of the letter can be found here.
October
Letter calling on Congress to block US F-16 sales to Turkey
October 25, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa joined a letter urging to enforce US sanctions on Turkey and block Erdogan’s request to purchase 40 F-16 fighters and 80 F-16 modernization kits. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to reexamine interim operating plan for California water projects in consultation with key stakeholders
October 20, 2021 - Representative Jim Costa (CA-16) along with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Representatives John Garamendi (CA-03), and Josh Harder (CA-10) called on state and federal officials to delay the implementation of the interim operating plan for the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to IRS on taxation of American rescue plan utility bill assistance
October 15, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to urge the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide clarity and recommend against taxing utility assistance funds from the American Rescue Plan. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to preserve the Valley’s water supply
October 14, 2021 - Rep. Costa led a letter to state and federal agencies expressing concerns about new filings in the State of California’s lawsuit challenging the management of the federal Central Valley Project and protections for endangered fish species. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter calling on democratic leadership to prevent cutting gun violence prevention funding from the reconciliation bill
October 14, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer to prevent cutting gun violence prevention funding from the reconciliation bill. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter calling on House leadership to address looming medicare physician payment cuts that will strain patient access to care
October 14, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined over 245 of his colleagues in a letter urging House leadership to address looming Medicare payment cuts to health care providers that will strain patient access to care. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter to Administration urging progress on USDA regulatory clarity for animal biotechnology
October 7, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner, Janet Woodcock urging timely progress in the reform of regulatory frameworks for animal biotechnology products. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter calling on President Biden for guidance on how congressional offices should help the thousands of Americans stranded in Afghanistan following his flawed withdrawal
October 4, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden requesting guidance on how "Members of Congress and our offices can, and should, respond to the thousands of requests we are receiving from Americans, constituents, and Afghan allies still stuck under Taliban control in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan. The full text of the letter can be found here.
September
Letter urging a regulatory fix bringing thousands of new doctors to the Valley
September 28, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a 67-member coalition including nearly all CA and TX members urges a regulatory fix bringing thousands of new doctors to the Valley. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging President Biden and Secretary Blinken to Enable COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Americans Abroad
September 27, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting urgent executive action to ensure Americans living abroad have access to COVID-19 vaccinations. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging Senate Republicans to Support Debt Limit Increase
September 27, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a letter urging Senate Republicans to do the responsible thing for the American people and vote to suspend the debt limit. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging House Leadership to fund African swine fever prevention efforts
September 17, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his Ag Committee colleagues in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushing for $75 million in funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent and prepare for a possible African Swine Fever outbreak in the U.S. swine population. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter requesting supplemental funding for Afghanistan evacuation and resettlement
September 17, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined 23 members of Congress urging appropriators to include resettlement resources in the bill. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging Department of Education to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on Title IX in October
September 13, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Education to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Title IX in October. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to address Egyptian human rights record
September 9, 2021 - Congressman Costa joined Congressman Ted Lieu, Senator Alex Padilla, and other colleagues in urging the Biden-Harris Administration to use the full range of tools at their disposal to put meaningful pressure on Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi over his government's atrocious human rights record. A digital copy of the letter can be found here.
Bicameral letter pushing to boost humanitarian assistance to Afghans in need
September 2, 2021 - Congressman Costa joined his House & Senate colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to take specific steps to ensure that humanitarian aid can continue to reach Afghans in need despite the takeover of the Taliban, a designated and sanctioned terrorist group. The full text of the letter is available here.
August
Letter calling for the Biden Administration to Protect Afghans Targeted by Taliban
August 24, 2021 - Congressman Costa joined his colleagues in issuing a letter to President Biden in support of Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. troops for the past two decades and whose lives are threatened by the Taliban receive protection. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to take concrete steps to support the relocation of America’s Afghan allies
August 21, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretaries Mayorkas and Blinken calling for the Departments of Homeland Security and State to take a number of immediate steps to help as many Afghan allies as possible relocate quickly and efficiently to the United States. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Letter calling on the Biden administration for answers on the withdrawal from Afghanistan
August 17, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his House colleagues in pressing the Biden administration for answers on how they are handling the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Bicameral letter urging the Department of Defense to continue supporting state and local efforts to combat wildfires
August 16, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his House & Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling for the Department to immediately extend the Defense Department’s FireGuard program — an invaluable resource for state and local firefighters responding to wildfires across the nation. Click here to read the letter.
Letter urging House Leadership to include Member Designated projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package
August 06, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a letter to House Democratic Leadership asking that they engage in negotiations to have Member Designated Projects included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The full text of the letter can be found here.
July
Letter urging President Biden to address barriers to market access for U.S. Energy companies in Mexico
July 20, 2021 – Rep. Costa joined a bicameral, bipartisan letter to President Joseph R. Biden to bring awareness to the Mexican government's efforts that undermine the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and substantial U.S. Investments in energy infrastructure on both sides of the border. The full letter can be found here.
Blue Dogs Call on Congress to Investigate Origins of COVID-19 in China, Assess United States’ Domestic Pandemic Response
July 14, 2021 - As a member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, Rep. Costa sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, calling for the establishment of a bipartisan commission to assess the United States’ preparation for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the origins of the COVID-19 virus in China.
Letter urging House leadership to include agricultural research in any comprehensive infrastructure package
July 8, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined several of his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to House leadership requesting a robust investment of at least $40 billion in agricultural climate research, agricultural innovation, and agricultural research in any comprehensive infrastructure package that may move forward. The letter can be viewed here.
June
Bipartisan Letter to President Biden calling for swift action to address the critical water crisis facing the West
June 30, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan group of House colleagues representing Western states in sending a letter to President Biden urging immediate action to address the extreme drought facing the West. You can find the full text of the letter here.
Letter urging for President Biden to nominate a Chief Agricultural Negotiator to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
June 29, 2021 - Congressman Costa joined a bipartisan group of House colleagues in a letter urging President Biden to nominate a Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The letter can be viewed here.
Bicameral letter calling for $700 billion for Child Care in Infrastructure Package
June 22, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a bicameral letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging them to include at least $700 billion over 10 years in direct spending on child care in the upcoming infrastructure package. Clark, Bonamici, and Bowman were joined on the letter by 118 House Members and ten additional senators. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Bicameral letter calling on Congressional Leadership to include support for working Fathers in infrastructure and jobs legislation
June 18, 2021 - Rep. Costa signed a letter to Congressional leadership, emphasizing the importance of including meaningful paid leave in the next recovery and jobs plan. The full text of the letter can be found here.
Congressional letter pushing for High-Speed Rail funding
June 16, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a group of House colleagues in urging Committee Chairs to include funding for High-Speed Rail in the American Jobs Plan.
Letter calling for increased support for wildfire preparedness
June 15, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined fellow members of the California Delegation in calling on House leadership to ensure that any future legislative package focused on infrastructure, economic stimulus, and job creation include robust funds to address deferred maintenance and wildland fire preparedness needs in the U.S. National Forest System. The text of the letter can be found here.
Letter pushing for expedited relief for chicken growers
June 4, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a bicameral and bipartisan letter calling on the USDA to support contract chicken growers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A copy of the letter is available here.
May
Letter demanding President Biden to zero out military aid to Azerbaijan
May 24, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus in calling for an overhaul of the Section 907 waiver process. The full letter of the text is available here.
Bipartisan letter calling on the Administration to utilize USMCA enforcement measures to support the Dairy Industry
May 21, 2021 — Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack calling on them to move forward with enforcement measures negotiated in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to support U.S. Dairy farmers. Read the bipartisan letter here.
Bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Tai on lumber shortage
May 17, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan letter to US Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, regarding steep increases in the price of lumber. The letter urges Ambassador Tai to resolve softwood lumber trade issues with Canada to help alleviate the rising costs of lumber. The letter can be found here.
Costa letter says all needs must be considered in response to drought
May 17, 2021 – Congressman Jim Costa sent a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board about the need for a balanced approach towards municipal, agricultural, and environmental water use in any response to California’s worsening drought crisis. It can be read in its entirety here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to appoint a U.S. Envoy to the North
May 14, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to appoint a U.S. Envoy to the North peace and political process by a bipartisan group in the United States House of Representatives.
Letter calling on House Democratic Leadership to protect Family Farms from Inheritance Capital Gains Changes
May 12, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a letter to House leadership raising concerns about the potentially devastating impact that changes to capital gains taxes could have on family-owned farms. Click here to read the letter
Costa, Axne lead effort to Protect Family Farms
May 6, 2021 - Rep. Costa, Axne led a letter urging House leadership to exempt family farms from any changes to ‘stepped-up b.' The full text of the letter can be found here.
Bipartisan Letter urging USTR Katherine Tai to work with Vietnam to eliminate tariffs on U.S. pork
May 5, 2021 – Today, Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) led over 70 Members of Congress in a letter urging United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to press Vietnam to eliminate tariffs on U.S. pork, improving market access for domestic pork producers. Read the bipartisan letter here.
Letter calling for funding to help Veterans with Gulf war illness
May 3, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined over 80 of his House colleagues in a letter calling for funding to help Veterans with Gulf War Illness. Led by Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), the bipartisan effort in support of a treatment research program targeted at “improved health and lives of Veterans who have Gulf War Illness” comes in the midst of a series of Congressional hearings on military toxic exposures.
April
Letter urging secure, sustainable path forward for US-North Korea relations
April 21, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a letter encouraging the Biden Administration to consider a secure and sustainable path forward for U.S.-North Korea relations as the Administration conducts its North Korea policy review.
Letter pushing for more expansive nuclear weapons talks with Russia
April 20, 2021 - Members of Congress push Biden to seek areas of common ground with Russia, including reductions to both sides’ nuclear arsenals that would reduce the risk of catastrophic war. The full text of the letter is available here.
March
Bicameral letter calling for year-round wildland fire workforce
March 30, 2021 - Congressman Costa joined a bicameral letter urging the Biden Administration to transition to a year-round federal firefighting workforce. The full text of the letter is available here.
Letter urging the Biden Administration to utilize science to prevent & respond to wildfires
March 24, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) joined 47 members of Congress in urging the Biden Administration to “go big” on funding for science-based strategies to prevent and respond to destructive wildfires. The full letter can be viewed or downloaded here.
Letter demanding for answers on Armenian POWs from Azerbaijani Ambassador
March 20, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa was joined by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Jackie Speier (CA) and Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ) in calling on Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov to outline “specific steps you are taking to ensure the release of Armenian hostages and how the Azerbaijani authorities are working to ensure adherence to the November 9 agreement.”
Letter calling on the Biden Administration and Social Security Administration to end wasteful practice that targets immigrants
March 17, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a letter urging the Biden administration to end the Trump-era Employer Correction Request Notices, also known as the “No-Match Letter” program. Representatives Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Marie Newman (IL-03), Judy Chu (CA-27), Juan Vargas (CA-29), and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) also co-signed the letter. A copy of the signed letter can be found here.
Costa leads efforts to add Judges to Eastern District of California
March 12, 2021 – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), and Reps. Doris Matsui (CA-06) and Josh Harder (CA-10) led two letters to the leadership of the House Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, urging them to support the authorization of at least five new permanent district judgeships for the Eastern District of California. The full text of that letter is available here.
Bipartisan letter urging stronger restrictions and tough line on Iran
March 11, 2021 – Rep. Costa joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Secretary Antony Blinken, urging the administration to use its leverage to obtain a better, comprehensive deal with Iran, including IAEA access to all nuclear sites.
Letter to address carriers declining to Ship U.S. Agriculture Exports from U.S. Ports
March 9, 2021 – Congressmen Jim Costa (CA-16) and Adrian Smith (R-NE), along with Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA), led a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter to Michael A. Khouri, Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, voicing concern over reports that certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCs) are declining to ship U.S. agricultural commodity exports from U.S. ports. Read the full letter here.
Bipartisan letter asking President Biden and the Justice Department to Act on Lumber
March 5, 2021 - Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) sent a letter to President Biden and the Department of Justice on March 4 urging the administration to respond to rising building materials prices and supply shortages, particularly, lumber, that is harming the housing market and threatens the economic recovery.
February
Bipartisan letter to administration in support of Armenia & Artsakh
February 20, 2021 – Congressman Jim Costa joined a bipartisan letter signed by 101 Members of Congress to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin highlighting key policy issues, including the pressing importance of addressing the “ongoing humanitarian crisis in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Click here to view the letter.
Letter urging the establishment of Valley Vaccination Site
February 11, 2021 - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), along with Reps. David Valadao (CA-21), Devin Nunes (CA-22), Josh Harder (CA-10), and Leader McCarthy (CA-23), sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton strongly urging the establishment of a COVID-19 vaccination site in Fresno to serve the hard-hit San Joaquin Valley.
Letter calling on Governor Newsom to prioritize vaccine equity for Farmworkers
February 9, 2021 – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) along with California Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-20), led a group of California Congressional members in a letter to Governor Newsom to ensure outreach to farmworkers as part of the State of California’s Phase 1B distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Letter by Bipartisan Coalition urging Congressional Leadership to fund mental health and substance use disorder treatment in next COVID relief package
February 4, 2021 - Rep. Costa joined a Bipartisan Coalition urging Congressional Leadership to fund mental health and substance use disorder treatment in the next COVID relief package. A copy of the letter can be viewed here.
January
Congressman Costa, Colleagues lead a bipartisan letter to USDA to prioritize farmworker safety funding
January 11, 2021 – Representatives Jim Costa (CA-16), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), and Fred Upton (MI-06) led 70 colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to allocate specific funding to protect our nation’s essential agricultural workers as they work to implement agricultural provisions from H.R.133 – the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
US Lawmakers take up the plight of India’s farmers in a letter to Secretary Pompeo
December 25, 2020 — Rep. Costa and some of his colleagues weighed in on the months-long protests by farmers across India, urging U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to raise the issue of farmers’ demands with the Indian government.